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Information on Renal Failure

Renal failure is also known as kidney failure and end-stage renal disease. There are two types of kidney failure, acute and chronic. Acute renal failure is the sudden loss of kidney function, and chronic renal failure usually takes years to fully develop. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, approximately 11.5 percent of adults over the age of 20 show signs of chronic kidney disease. (See References 2).

  1. The Facts

    • The kidneys are responsible for many important bodily functions, such as: ridding the blood of waste products, controlling blood pressure, balancing electrolyte levels and stimulating red blood cell production. They also help to prevent dehydration by holding onto as much water as possible instead of excreting it as urine. Located in the back of the abdomen, the kidneys filter blood and send the waste products out in the urine.

    Causes

    • There are certain risk factors that contribute to renal failure. Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, lupus, congenital kidney disease, sickle cell disease and a family history of renal disease can make a person more susceptible to kidney failure. Also, people over the age of 60 are more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease.

    Symptoms

    • Renal failure can be asymptomatic in its early stages. Shortness of breath, lethargy, loss of appetite and weakness occur as kidney function decreases. Ultimately, the symptoms of kidney failure include: anemia, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, decreased urine output, malaise, fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping, back pain, cramps, muscle twitches, bloody stools, swollen ankles, jaundice and itching.

    Diagnosis

    • If your doctor suspects renal failure, he will conduct blood tests to measure the amount of waste products in the blood. Urine tests are also performed to measure electrolytes, protein and to detect the presence of abnormal cells. The presence of protein in urine is often an indication of kidney problems. The amount of electrolytes will help the doctors determine if your kidneys are properly filtering and monitoring your blood. CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and biopsies are also used to confirm renal failure.

    Treatment

    • A diet low in salt, phosphorus and potassium is recommended for patients suffering from renal failure. This is because the body cannot properly remove them from the blood. Medications such as Caltrate, Rocaltrol, Renagel and Aranesp can be used to control symptoms, along with iron supplements, vitamins and blood pressure medications. Dialysis and kidney transplants are the only options once complete renal failure has set in. Dialysis is a procedure that filters the blood of waste products, which is what the kidneys would do if they were functioning properly.

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